Senate turns Cumberlands money into scholarship fund

FRANKFORT — Changing course after a Supreme Court decision last month, the Senate appropriations and revenue committee added a provision Friday to the state revenue bill helping those from coal-producing counties to be able afford pharmacy school.

Set up through funds provided by a coal severance tax, the original intent was to allow those students to attend a pharmacy school at the College of the Cumberlands with the funds. That was struck down by the state Supreme Court.

In response, the new provision allows anyone who is a resident of Kentucky to attend any accredited pharmacy school in the state with a loan from the tax. The maximum amount a person can receive is equal to the amount of tuition for the University of Kentucky’s pharmacy school.

The provision gives preference to those from coal-producing counties, but isn’t exclusive. It also requires that those who borrow from the tax fund serve one year as a pharmacist in a coal county for every year they take out a loan.